God’s Word Translation
1 John 2:13
13I’m writing to you, fathers, because you know Christ who has existed from the beginning. I’m writing to you, young people, because you have won the victory over the evil one.
1 John 2:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
- New International Version (NIV)I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
- English Standard Version (ESV)I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
- New King James Version (NKJV)I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.
Context of 1 John 2:13
11Those who hate other believers are in the dark and live in the dark. They don’t know where they’re going, because they can’t see in the dark. 12I’m writing to you, dear children, because your sins are forgiven through Christ. I’m writing to you, fathers, because you know Christ who has existed from the beginning. I’m writing to you, young people, because you have won the victory over the evil one. 14I’ve written to you, children, because you know the Father. I’ve written to you, fathers, because you know Christ, who has existed from the beginning. I’ve written to you, young people, because you are strong and God’s word lives in you. You have won the victory over the evil one. 15Don’t love the world and what it offers. Those who love the world don’t have the Father’s love in them.
Read all of 1 John 21 John 2:13 word by word
γράφω ὑμῖν, πατέρες, ὅτι ἐγνώκατε τὸν ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς. γράφω ὑμῖν, νεανίσκοι, ὅτι νενικήκατε τὸν πονηρόν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- I writeγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
- unto youσύsu · youG4771
- fathersπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
- becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- ye have knownγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- the beginningἀρχήarchē · beginningG746
- young menνεανίσκοςneaniskos · young manG3495
- ye have overcomeνικάωnikaō · to conquerG3528
- the wicked oneπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190
- little childrenπαιδίονpaidion · childG3813
- the Fatherὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
Cross-references for 1 John 2:13
- 1 John 2:14I’ve written to you, children, because you know the Father. I’ve written to you, fathers, because you know Christ, who has existed from the beginning. I’ve written to you, young people, because you are strong and God’s word lives in you. You have won the victory over the evil one.
- 1 Timothy 5:1Never use harsh words when you correct an older man, but talk to him as if he were your father. Talk to younger men as if they were your brothers,
- 1 John 2:3We are sure that we know Christ if we obey his commandments.
- 1 John 5:20We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we know the real God. We are in the one who is real, his Son Jesus Christ. This Jesus Christ is the real God and eternal life.
- Psalms 91:14Because you love me, I will rescue you. I will protect you because you know my name.
- Luke 10:22“My Father has turned everything over to me. Only the Father knows who the Son is. And no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal him.”
- John 8:19The Pharisees asked him, “Where is your father?” Jesus replied, “You don’t know me or my Father. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.”
- John 14:7If you have known me, you will also know my Father. From now on you know him ⌞through me⌟ and have seen him ⌞in me⌟.”
- John 17:3This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
- 1 John 1:1The Word of life existed from the beginning. We have heard it. We have seen it. We observed and touched it.
- Psalms 90:2Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, you were God. You are God from everlasting to everlasting.
- Psalms 148:12young men and women, old and young together.
- Proverbs 20:29While the glory of young men is their strength, the splendor of older people is their silver hair.
- Joel 2:28“After this, I will pour my Spirit on everyone. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.
- Zechariah 9:17They will be beautiful and lovely. Young men will prosper on grain, and young women will prosper on new wine.
- 1 John 4:4Dear children, you belong to God. So you have won the victory over these people, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Commentaries on 1 John 2:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13I write unto you, fathers - By fathers it is very likely that the apostle means persons who had embraced Christianity on its first promulgation in Judea and in the Lesser Asia, some of them had probably seen Christ in the flesh; for this appears to be what is meant by, Ye have known him from the beginning. These were the elders and eye witnesses, who were of the longest standing in the Church, and well established in the truths of the Gospel, and in…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13I write unto you, fathers - As there were special reasons for writing to children, so there were also for writing to those who were more mature in life. The class here addressed would embrace all those who were in advance of the ́́ neaniskoior young men, and would properly include those who were at the head of families. Because ye have known him that is from the beginning - That is, the Lord Jesus Christ. Notes, 1 John 1:1. The argument is, that they had…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-14Verses 12-14 As Christians have their peculiar states, so they have peculiar duties; but there are precepts and obedience common to all, particularly mutual love, and contempt of the world. The youngest sincere disciple is pardoned: the communion of saints is attended with the forgiveness of sins. Those of the longest standing in Christ's school need further advice and instruction. Even fathers must be written unto, and preached unto; none are too old to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-14John describes three groups of Christians at different stages of spiritual growth: God's children, the young in the faith (literally young people), and the mature in the faith (literally fathers).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1413-14. All three classes are first addressed in the present. "I write"; then in the past (aorist) tense, "I wrote" (not "I have written"; moreover, in the oldest manuscripts and versions, in the end of 1Jo 2:13, it is past, "I wrote," not as English Version, "I write"). Two classes, "fathers" and "young men," are addressed with the same words each time (except that the address to the young men has an addition expressing the source and means of their…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 John 2:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 John 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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